Often, but not always, a Coup d’etat involves the forced removal of key figures from power. This differs from other events such as civil war or revolution because it typically does not involve large-scale combat or a fundamental transformation in the social, political, and economic order of the country. Rather, the coup d’etat usually involves the military or the populace literally or figuratively cornering the current heads of state and forcing them to step down.
In the most extreme cases, a Coup d’etat may lead to a dictatorship. Whether they are accompanied by civil war, a revolution, or a transition to democracy, coups can have long-term effects on a nation’s societal structures and governance. Using historical examples from both the French Revolution and the fall of communism, this article examines the ways in which a coup disrupts revolutionary ideals and can shift the trajectory of government toward authoritarian forms of authority.
A coup d’etat is an illegal and violent overthrow of a government that transfers power to an individual or group. The term is derived from the French phrase for “stroke of the state,” which refers to a forceful and sudden change in government. Coup d’etats can be led by the military, rebel groups, or other internal factions within a nation. They are often accompanied by a conflict between competing factions or individuals within the military that results in the removal of senior officers or commanders. The resulting power transfer is usually referred to as a junta.
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